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Becoming Glocal: Glocalization And The Study Of Villa Pavements In Hispania Baetica (2nd Century Ad - 4th Century Ad) - thesis Appendices
No full textDataset underpinning main findings of thesis: 'Becoming Glocal: Glocalization And The Study Of Villa Pavements In Hispania Baetica (2nd Century Ad - 4th Century Ad)'.</p
Dataset on Corporate Governance Regulation and Financial Market Growth in the eight CIS Countries (1995–2022)
No full textThe purpose of this study is to quantitatively analyse whether changes in corporate governance regulation have had an impact on financial market growth in eight full members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan over the period 1995–2022. To measure changes in the corporate governance framework at the macro level (i.e., the country level), data were collected using a structured questionnaire containing 45 variables (independent/predictor variables). The questionnaire was developed based on the G20/OECD 2015 Principles of Corporate Governance and readily available variables from authoritative sources. These variables were used to construct indices measuring the quality and development of corporate governance regulations across CIS countries. To assess financial market development, data were collected for two dependent (outcome) variables and 22 control variables reflecting macroeconomic and financial market conditions. These data were obtained from open and internationally recognised sources, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The resulting dataset forms a panel dataset covering eight CIS countries between 1995 and 2022 and includes corporate governance indices, financial market indicators, and macroeconomic control variables. The dataset was used to perform panel data regression analysis in R to examine whether convergence with OECD corporate governance standards has contributed to financial market growth in CIS countries at both the regional and country levels.</p
When Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Can Cause Trouble-A Misplacement of Pacemaker Lead Into the Left Ventricle
No full textMisplacement of pacemakers lead into the left ventricle (LV) is a rare but clinically important complication, often facilitated by unrecognized intracardiac shunts such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Early recognition is essential to avoid systemic embolization and ensure safe device function. We report a man in his 70s with a background of bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement, coronary bypass grafting, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, Parkinson's disease, and prostate cancer, who underwent permanent pacemaker implantation for symptomatic sinus pauses. Follow-up echocardiography 1 year later, performed as part of surveillance of his aortic valve prosthesis, unexpectedly revealed that the ventricular lead had crossed a PFO and was positioned in the LV via the mitral valve. His 12-lead ECG demonstrated a right bundle branch block-like paced morphology, raising suspicion of LV pacing. The patient remained asymptomatic with no evidence of systemic embolization. He was anticoagulated with apixaban and subsequently underwent successful lead extraction and repositioning into the right ventricle (RV). Correct RV placement was confirmed using multiple fluoroscopic views, particularly the left anterior oblique (LAO) projection and by postprocedure ECG, chest x-ray, and echocardiogram. This case underlines the importance of careful assessment of paced ECG morphology, fluoroscopic views during implantation (especially LAO), and postimplant imaging to confirm lead location. Suspicion should be raised when an RBBB-like QRS morphology is observed during RV pacing. Timely recognition and management with anticoagulation, followed by extraction and repositioning, can prevent potentially devastating complications. Operators should remain vigilant for inadvertent LV lead placement, particularly in patients with unrecognized PFO. Routine use of multiple fluoroscopic projections and correlation with ECG and echocardiography can aid early diagnosis and improve procedural safety.</p
Reward and Employee Performance: The Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Job Satisfaction among UK academics
No full textPurpose: This study investigates the relationship between employee rewards and job performance ofacademics in the United Kingdom (UK) Higher Education (HE).Design/methodology: A total of 363 academics were surveyed across various universities(Russell/non-Russe/l, research, and non-research intensive) in the UK. PLS-SEM was used to analysethe data.Findings: The findings showed that although rewards influenced both intrinsic and extrinsic jobsatisfaction, only intrinsic job satisfaction mediated the relationship between rewards and jobperformance. Extrinsic job satisfaction and job performance were not result in a statisticallysignificantly related.Originality: This study contributes to the advancement of incentive theory by uncovering theboundary conditions underpinning the reward-performance relationship through the mediation ofintrinsic satisfaction. Our investigative approach provides insights into the multidimensional nature ofjob satisfaction and uncovers the unique motivational profile of UK academics and the sector-specificnature of their performance drivers.Practical implications: This study makes the case for universities to support academics' autonomy,recognition, and meaningful work to foster intrinsic job satisfaction. For Russell group universities,focusing on recognition and autonomy drives intrinsic job satisfaction, while inclusive practices arekey factors for non-Russell group universities. Aligning rewards with intrinsic job satisfactionpromotes academic performance and universities’ overall impact on society.</p
Localising Heritage: Archaeologies of the Recent Past in Post-War Jaffna, Sri Lanka
No full textThe role of archaeology in divisive nationalism, colonial supremacism and themarginalisation of subaltern groups is increasingly evident globally. Such legacies are visiblein Sri Lanka, not least its north and east, where many regard archaeology as either irrelevantor as a weapon directed against them. We outline the genesis of a UK-Sri Lankan project thatresponds to this situation and focus on a workshop held in Jaffna with University of Jaffnapartners that tested the potential for archaeology and heritage to foster affirmation of identityand sense of place in communities recovering from conflict. The initiative comprisedcollaborative activity not requiring specialist training, bringing together people of diversedisciplinary backgrounds to identify and record local sites. While archaeologies of conflictsurfaced, the country’s civil war was not the primary focus. The work considered how thematerial fabric of place, and the understanding and memory it evokes, are forms ofarchaeology and heritage and might be practised for social good.</p
Modernising Shift Working Practices
No full textOrganisational practices to reduce negative health and safety effects of shift working.This briefing paper was produced by Lorena Rosen, BioClocks UK Coordinator at University of Leicester, with contributions from leading chronobiology experts and the support of the University of Leicester Institute for Policy. This Policy Briefing paper draws on research evidence and expertise from across the BioClocks UK network, and provides a series of policy recommendations targeted to employers, legislators and regulators, and public health organisations and charities. Through embedding evidence-based protections for shiftworking into existing employment regulations, employers can be better protected from the harmful health risks associated with circadian disruption.</p
Technical validation of a virtual reality-based eye tracker for neuro-ophthalmic assessment: a reliability and reproducibility study.
No full textVirtual Reality (VR) eye trackers provide portable and objective tools for neuro-ophthalmic testing. This study aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of an emerging VR-based eye tracker (BulbiCAM) in healthy participants and compare its utility to an existing wearable eye-tracking system (PupilLabs Neon), thereby laying the groundwork for the future studies of clinical feasibility. Thirty-nine healthy participants underwent BulbiCAM testing across two visits, with inter-visit reproducibility evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficients. Pupillary light reflex assessments were conducted with both devices, allowing paired comparisons. Participant feedback demonstrated high acceptability, with 89% reporting the test as comfortable and 81.5% experiencing no eye strain or fatigue. BulbiCAM showed high reproducibility for pupil and pursuit tests (ICC = 0.76-0.88), though saccade reproducibility was lower (ICC = 0.46-0.62) which indicates limited reliability for saccade metrics. Key pupillometric parameters showed strong agreement between devices, with minimal bias observed in baseline diameter (-0.48 mm), peak constriction (-0.56 mm), constriction velocity (0.22 mm/s), and duration (-0.052 s). These findings support the potential clinical feasibility and reliability of BulbiCAM for both research and patient testing, offering a promising alternative for objective neuro-ophthalmic assessment.</p
Elucidating the Mechanism of Clostridioides difficile Phage Infection and Identification of the Phage Receptor
No full textClostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhoea, exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance and recurrent infections. Bacteriophage therapy offers a promising, highly specific alternative. However, its effective implementation requires a deeper molecular understanding of phage-host interactions, particularly receptor recognition and binding mechanisms. This study focuses on CDHS1, a C. difficile phage previously shown to exhibit enhanced lytic activity in the presence of magnesium ions (Mg²⁺), implicating divalent cations in phage adsorption and infectivity.Building on prior structural work that crystallised the CDHS1 receptor-binding protein (RBP), Gp22, in a magnesium-rich solution, this research investigates the role of Mg²⁺ in stabilising Gp22 and facilitating interaction with its putative receptor, the surface layer protein SlpA. Site-directed mutagenesis of three predicted Mg²⁺-binding residues (Asp540, Gln602, Glu605) was performed to generate binding-deficient mutants. Functional and biochemical characterisation revealed that Mg²⁺ enhances Gp22 stability and host-binding efficiency, supporting its structural and functional significance.To probe the phage and host interaction, SlpA was extracted from C. difficile and tested against Gp22 using pull-down assays and native PAGE electrophoresis. Despite evidence supporting a role for SlpA in phage recognition, in vitro binding was not observed, possibly due to loss of native conformation or absence of additional cofactors. Further, the effect of Mg²⁺ was tested in both chelating and supplemented conditions, yet did not yield detectable interactions under these assay formats.These findings suggest that while Mg²⁺ is essential for RBP stability and phage adsorption, stable receptor binding may require membrane-associated environments or complex host structures. This work provides novel insight into magnesium’s role in phage biology and highlights the need for advanced approaches, including computational modelling and in vivo assays, to fully elucidate the receptor recognition mechanisms in C. difficile phage therapy.</p
Machine Learning Approaches to Computer-Guided Interpretation of Stroke Brain Images
No full textIntroduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with worse outcomes in ischaemic stroke (IS). Current AF diagnosis relies on prolonged cardiac monitoring, leaving patients with undetected AF vulnerable to recurrent stroke. Clinicians may use imaging to infer stroke source for anticoagulation decisions, but there is limited evidence to support this practice.Aims This thesis explores whether deep learning (DL) can classify embolic appearing strokes and predict likelihood of AF associated with stroke using routinely collected electronic clinical records (EHR) and imaging.Methods A systematic scoping review identified useful techniques in automated imaging based IS classification. A dataset of 962 patients with primary IS diagnosis was assembled, including diffusion-weighted and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging, demographic details, and cardiac monitoring records. AF status was determined using a rule-based algorithm and validated by an experienced clinician (n=310), and embolic appearance was labelled by two expert raters (n=160). Four DL models using transfer learning for feature extraction and varying methods for dimensionality reduction were evaluated. Different preprocessing approaches were compared, with five-fold cross validation for evaluation.Results AF classification from imaging alone was modest (AUC 0.70). These results align with known distinct imaging presentation of embolic strokes, demonstrating DL can replicate expert visual assessment. ADC-based models showed slight improvement over DWI for AF classification, potentially reflecting chronic infarcts associated with silent or undiagnosed AF.Conclusions Imaging alone may not be sufficient to detect AF directly, but may offer useful infarct pattern signals, especially when considering the broader infarct burden including chronic lesions. DL models using routine EHR offer promising avenues to stratify patients for earlier anticoagulation but require further refinement and integration with clinical data.</p
